REAL OTS ANALYSIS
The opening title sequence analysis , or OTS for short, consists of opening title sequences of horror films with the inclusion of multiple sub-genres. The different opening sequences will be analysed for their contents and for their relation to particular horror theorists such as Wheeler Winston Dixon and Wes Craven to name a few. The following opening title sequences have been chosen because they represent horror theory and the theorists' observations of the horror genre.
This famous and well recognisable horror's opening title sequence goes with the theory of a missus Carol Clover, her theory of where a horror should take place is in an intimidating or secluded or scary location to allow the audience to experience an amount of fear into the eyes of the audience. However Clover has another theory which states that; a location in which when inside you think yourself but is not is a magnificent location because at first it would relax the audience because they think the characters are safe and are not in any danger anymore but when the danger follows them inside this will make the audiences heartbeat rise and rise and the suspense of the characters possibly dying or being harmed will make the audience shiver in fear, this also allows for additional tension to resonate throughout the audience, showing signs of a good opening title sequence.
In addition to what is stated above, we don't see the subject weapon of the film. However we see elements of danger in the form of barbed wire which goes along with the theory of Kaminsky of which the weapon needs to be personal to the killer, for instance a gun is not personal because the victim may not see the killer and it wouldn't seem like it was purposely done. But if you have something like barbed wire it is personal because you have to be up close and it is extremely personal showing the the killer wanted to hurt and brutally torture the victim to death. The lighting is deliberately done in a way in which it seems like poor quality or poor colour choice to make the audience seem unsettled because they're trying to see what is on the screen but because they are not they are bracing themselves increasing the fear in which they have inside them, the lighting is this brown yellowish colour because the yellow is supposed to suggest parts of the film being positive but because the brown colour is fairly dark this shows negative connotations and mixes the audiences interpretation of what is happening on screen. The sound is a creepy and steadily beat, this is to build up the suspense and to symbolise the fear rising by the beat rising over time, it is also instrumental to not distract the audience, if there were vocals this would avert the audiences thinking process because they won't completely focus on what is appearing on screen. In addition the atmosphere of the opening title sequence itself is tense and creepy because of the choice of music, the music is negative and therefore the person viewing the title sequence is starting to get nervous and scared.
This Opening title sequence is similar to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in the aspect of following the same theories. A hotel is a location in which seems safe and secure but in reality scary and supernatural events happen within it, adding a surprise element to the film/show.Another theory followed in this Opening title sequence was Kaminsky where there is no ranged weapon all the killing, shown in the opening title sequence, is done with either supernatural powers or with hands, making the killing more personal and possibly more satisfying for people who like violence and/or gore. The soundtrack that is playing whilst the clips are on show doesn't really change, this was done on purpose to make the audience clench up and stay tense throughout the whole length of the opening title sequence. This clip is similar to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in the sense that it is instrumental because an OTS is supposed to start building the tension up to allow the audience to already have that feeling of fear taking over their body but it is also to ensure that the audience has their complete attention to the clips that are on display as if they get distracted they will not be worried about what is going to happen next. This opening title sequence is nonlinear and so too add the element of suspense and surprise the director decided to input a lot of cuts and only have small lengthed clips to keep the audience from not knowing what the story is about unless they keep watching.
This is an effective opening title sequence because the clips are all quick and unpredictable meaning that the audience's tension levels are rising before the actual programme has even began. It is also effective because it gives an insight into what you are going to watch without giving the story away, thus making the audience have to watch to find out how all the clips coincide with each other. The people involved with in the trailer are a mix between humans and supernatural silhouettes, these are distinctly different to easily show that the humans are the weak and vulnerable ones, known as the victim whilst the supernatural silhouettes are given the role of the killers and are shown as strong and psychopathic.
This opening title sequence is in contrast to the stereotypical horror ones, by that I mean the background images have a positive feeling to them, the sky is a beautiful blue with white puffy clouds and with the bright sun. However the music is similar with the heavy metal genre being played to get the audience feeling "pumped" and looking forward to the rest of the film. The Zombieland opening title sequence contrasts Carol Clover's theory in which she states 'victim's locked in somewhere' and this title sequence is set in the outdoors and when buildings are featured the doors are left open and exits were obviously in view. This could however also follow a Clover's theory, the buildings could represent a safe place like a car mechanics and they have been invaded showing that a safe place is in fact not safe. The theory of shock in which you see gruesome shots to show gore and violence, a theory by Carol Clover, is used here as zombies are eating humans guts and forcing people to the ground, shocking and possibly frightening the audience.
The soundtrack is similar to most opening title sequences, by that we mean it is instrumental to not disturb or take the audience's attention away from what is being shown on the screen and the images shown are used in a way which lures the audiences into the linear storyline and that makes them want to watch the rest and it makes the audience want to tell their friends. The lighting used in the Zombieland opening title sequence is different to other ones because it is bright, we think this was intentional to make that film stand out against others as this type of story is not original. we also thought it was intentional because it is more of a horror comedy. I think this could've been more effective because it doesn't really show a true horror element, it just seems like an action film with zombies chasing people around, not much logic or a thought process shown.
The opening title sequence from Final Destination 4 is one of both artistic genius as well as horror endorsing. The main opening title sequence consists of artificial but forensically accurate skeletons of the anatomical body as well as the use of weapons geographically added to cause injury and harm to the body in the image. In comparison to many other opening title sequences for the genre of horror, Final Destination 4 is different in the sense that we as an audience we do not see the characters or any form of acting as such, instead we see the computerised sequence in which the film follows. The opening title sequence for this particular film, Final Destination, follows Wheeler Winston Dixon's theory that an audience is enthralled by extreme violence rather than the theory behind it. An audience likes to see violence upon the human body, it allows for a sense of reality and gives a sense of close proximity of the killer. Within Final Destination 4 we see a graphically produced human skeleton have pain inflicted upon it as if it is being murdered multiple times, in multiple ways and by multiple different ways. Dixon suggests that "No longer is it enough to suggest (death); they must be shown" and so the opening title sequence within Final Destination 4 to express this theory but not in terms of flesh but deeper, more dramatic and visualised beneath the skin, below the surface.
Within the opening title sequence of Final Destination 4, we do not see any evidence of Wes Craven's safe place theory nor Carol Clovers theory of masochism and sadism but there is however evidence of Kaminsky's personal extensions theory which states that weapons which elongate the killer, increasing their reach are more favourable within horror films with both the director and killer. In Final Destination 4 we do not see the presence of a killer because there is no, in technicality, killer but we do see the use of weapons in which would extend the arm of a potential killer such as knifes, nooses and iron bars. This therefore suggests that Final Destination may not follow all theories within horror texts such as "Film and philosophy" (1994) and "men, women and chainsaws" (1992) but it does follow the some texts with one example being Kaminsky.
In terms of sound, a punchy and distorted soundtrack is used to give the audience the impression of a disturbed mentality in terms of killings and, in the film, the paranormal killings. The soundtrack itself is one of great tempo and pace once more to suggest the pace in which the film to follow will go. Sound effects within this opening title sequence one also one in which suggest mentally challenged or supernatural connotations, however and quite violently the audience hear the sound of the weapon in question as it hist the body. Whether it is a iron bar, strangulation device or mechanical device it is important to heart this as an audience as it allows for a perception of the film to follow and without this the opening title sequence for Final Destination 4 would lack emphasis or even horror connotations in the first place. Shots within this opening title sequence cannot be classified by angle when looking at the body as there is constant change and variation, in a single movement, allowing the audience to perceive the pain upon the body as vital in the film to follow. However, each murder weapon allows for shots, movements and angles to be used to perceive the weapon as dangerous or important within the context of the opening title sequence. An example of this would be the steel beam, we as an audience view it form beneath, a worms eye view, as it falls towards the screen, this therefore allows the audience to feel as if they are in the perspective of the body seen elsewhere within the opening title sequence.
Overall, the opening title sequence for Final Destination 4 is effective as an OTS as it allows for the perception of what isn't there, the OTS allows for the audience to perceive death and violence upon humans without seeing actual weapons hit actual flesh. The way in which the visually enhanced opening title sequence uses high key lighting for the weapon and lower keys for the body creates an atmosphere that the weapons are supposed to be there, as if they are "meant to be". This opening title sequence works well because it is a modern twist on the classic death in the first scene cliché, this moreover results in an opening title sequence which shows elements of the film while keeping the mystery, thriller and horror elements hidden resulting in a anticipation about the audience.
The final opening title sequence is taken form the horror series names American Horror Story Asylum, the main opening title sequence consists of an asylum in which violence is perceived to occur as well as the violation of those who are mentally challenged. In terms of comparison to other opening title sequence, this neither contains visually enhanced graphics nor straight acting scenes but glimpses of multiple scenes put together in an editing technique, a montage. A montaged opening title sequence such as that seen in American Horror Story Asylum allows for a non-linear sequence which furthermore creates a deceptive sequence difficult to decipher. The opening title sequence does not directly use Wheeler Winston Dixon's theory taken from his 1994 book named " film and philosophy" that states that violence is not longer enough unless it is seen inflicted upon flesh and bone. This opening title sequence uses the power of suggestion to allow the audience to self suggest that violence and torture is taking place when in context there is no actual proof. The sequence uses severed body parts without the visual aid of seeing them being taken and so it allows the audience to create a torture scene within their selves that is proved, or disproved, in the series itself, an example of suggestion other than this sequence is the torture scene in Reservoir Dogs in which the subjects ear is cut off without the visual aid. This opening title sequence taken from American Horror Story Asylum also uses Wes Craven's theory of safe places which states that the cruellest and most violent horror scenes can happen in schools, hospitals and any place in which you'd think you as an individual would be safe. This therefore allows us as an audience to develop a fear of the most ordinary of places and people which therefore sets you up for the series allowing for the perception of danger is "safe" places.
We also see the use of Carol Clovers theory taken form the 1992 book named "men, women and chainsaws" in which sadism and masochism are seen in small glimpses. The enjoyment of giving pain allows the audience to, combined with the safe places theory, fear the more ordinary people and places. Within the opening title sequence we see a supposedly innocent character in society, a nun, inflict a form of pain upon a helpless man which creates a fear for us as an audience. Kaminsky's theory of personal extensions is also present within this opening title sequence in which weapons that extend a killer or torturers reach towards the victim therefore making them some what unavoidable, this is the reason in which we do not see a gun, it is not a form of fierce extension. In terms of sound, we hear sound effects of screams at intervals with the main sounds being that of a chainsaw resemblance as well as shock notices and high tempo pitch changing music. The screams within the opening title sequence appear at sudden intervals as a jump scare as such, it allows for us as an audience to be scared and therefore anticipate what will appear next within the opening title sequence. The high tempo soundtrack with the occasional chainsaw noise creates an ambiance in which a horror series can be based around, there is no continuity within the soundtrack and so it creates a disturbed and vulnerable theme of sound which would be relative connotations of an asylum. Within the American Horror Story Asylum opening title sequence multiple different shots, angles and movements are used in rapid succession to have connotations of madness, dissembled and mentally challenged theme. One such example of shots, angles and movements within this opening title sequence is the extreme close up of the bloodshot eye upon what looks to be a bed, this shot has no movement but is filmed within a neutral angle, as if we as an audience must have no bias upon the subject. We sense fear and vulnerability but we can also get calculation and deception and we as an audience are therefore confused, as with most parts of the sequence, with what exactly is happening and in what way it happens.
Overall, the opening title sequence taken from American Horror Story Asylum is very effective as a horror sequence as it creates an atmosphere of fear, the unknown. We as an audience are effected by the lighting, the low key lighting with only hints of high key lighting creates an atmosphere of darkness, eeriness and the unknown in which the audience do not know how to perceive which therefore suggests the opening title sequence is effective in deceiving the audience and in confusing the audience into wanting to watch more as see what happens next within the series. This final opening title sequence works not only because all elements previously spoken about but because of the quality of acting, the ways in which the actors can portray those who are mentally challenged as well as those who somewhat own them in terms of owning their bodies and minds creates an opening title sequence of great quality and belief. The acting within the sequence enhances the audience experience and therefore makes the audience want to watch the series as it continues which is partly the point of a captivating opening title sequence.
In conclusion to this opening title sequence analysis, we as Possessed Productions need to create an opening title sequence in which not only captivates the target audience but challenges their mind and viewpoint upon our chosen theme and sub-genre and therefore the way in which we present out media form will become vital in the portrayal of our subsequent film idea. Not only the way in which we edit out opening title sequence but the way in which we choose out sound tracks and sound effects as well as actors and shots, it is important that we try and relate to theories by film critics and theorists . Once such example of following a theory could be to film within a school with innocent looking actors, and relating to a theory not previously mentioned, we as a group should incorporate the theory of Tudor who suggests that the female must be enticing towards younger males for whom the slasher sub-genre is mainly aimed at.